England midfielder makes first appearance of season for Tottenham after injury lay-off

England midfielder Scott Parker made his long-awaited comeback for Tottenham Hotspur after missing the first four months of the season with an Achilles problem.

Parker has not played since since the European Championship Finals during the summer and needed surgery on his injury.

But the 32-year-old, who was voted England's Player of the Year in 2011, has made a full recovery and came on late in the game as Spurs recorded a 1-0 win over Swansea to help them move back into the top four.

And boss Andre Villas-Boas was thrilled to see Parker back in action and hopes he will play a major role for the club once again this season.

Villas-Boas said: “He is an important player. Sometimes people don't seem to value the situation we have been through.

"Younes Kaboul has missed so much time, Gareth Bale , Mousa Dembele, Parker, Benoit Assou-Ekotta - then Rafa and Modric (leaving).

“All these players are ones who played an important role to Tottenham last year. This is a completely new team."

Three Lions defender Kyle Walker played a major role in the only goal of the game as his free-kick fell perfectly for Jan Vertonghen who hit a superb shot into the bottom corner.

England duo Aaron Lennon and Jermain Defoe were also impressive as Tottenham kept alive their hopes of securing a Champions League place.

Ashley Cole, Steven Gerrard, Joe Hart, Glen Johnson and Danny Welbeck are all in the hunt for this year's England Player of the Year Award and it's up to you which star wins.

Place your vote here before the closing date of 13 January 2013. You can also vote for the England Men's Under-21s and Women's Senior Players of the Year, too.